Japan crisis one of the biggest disasters, says Pentagon

The Pentagon which has deployed thousands of its personnel and over a dozen ships for the relief and rescue operation in Japan today termed the crisis as one of the biggest natural and manmade disasters.

"We're currently engaged in what we believe is one of the biggest natural and man-made disasters that we'll face in our lifetime," US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Robert Willard told reporters in a teleconference from Hawaii.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates yesterday authorized up to $35 million in initial funds for humanitarian assistance for the Japan quake and tsunami victims, Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan said earlier in the day. This is in addition to those allocated by the State Department.

"That combination of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, a 10-meter tsunami, the many aftershocks that they have experienced and the consequent nuclear reactor accidents together create a humanitarian crisis in northeastern Honshu that is without precedent," Admiral Willard said.

"I know, for the Japanese defence forces that are attempting to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and a difficult environment as well for the US forces that are supporting them," the Pacific Command Commander said.

He himself heads to Japan today. The Department of Defence has authorized a voluntary departure of family members.

"We have capabilities in radiological controls, and teams in place to assist in everything from monitoring to decontamination. So the US military has a pretty effective and self-sufficient capability to work in these environments, and we certainly have the forces to assist where we're needed," he said.

The Pentagon is flying airborne systems on the outside of its helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes in order to monitor activity in the area.

"Where we encounter, radiological effects, we report those broadly, both within our own forces and to the Japanese. As you suggest, there are teams on the ground that have monitoring equipment. We have individuals that are carrying personal dosimetry, and our ships are equipped with the ability to gauge any activity that the encounter as well," he said.

Willard said the Pacific Command is performing functions ranging from bringing food, water and other supplies to the more than 500,000 displaced citizens of northeast Honshu, Japan's main island. "We're providing logistics support and in some cases direct support," he said.

"We're confident that Japan will achieve a full recovery and we’ll do our utmost to ensure that happens," Willard said.